SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team opened their 2024 campaign on Thursday evening with a 1-1 draw against California State University San Marcos.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 1, CSUSM 1
Records: UCCS (0-0-1, 0-0-0 RMAC), CSUSM (0-0-1, 0-0-0 CCAA)
Facility: The Cage |San Marcos, Calif.
All-Time Series: Thursday evening's matchup against the Cougars was the first in UCCS program history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first action of the Mountain Lion's season-opening match came in the sixth minute of play with UCCS' second-year goalkeeper Soren Russell making a save on a shot to the center of the net by the Cougars. After Cal State San Marcos added two more shot attempts across the next 20 minutes of the game, the Mountain Lions began to ramp up their offensive attack with freshman Dillon Clarke putting the team's first shot on frame in the 27^th minute. UCCS' best scoring opportunity of the opening half arose just five minutes later in the 32^nd minute as juniors Miles Seminario and Nick Walker unleashed successive shots at the net, with Seminario's being saved by CSUSM goalkeeper Oli Barrosa and Walker's caroming off the crossbar.
• Neither team managed to gain much offensive momentum until the final 30 seconds of the first half when Cal State San Marcos midfielder Ryan Meinardus lined up a last ditch shot on goal. The ball would fall harmlessly into the outstretched hands of Russell, keeping the match scoreless headed into the halftime break.
• The scoreless tie did not last long into the second period, however, as the Cougars put the first goal of the game on the scoreboard in the 51^st minute with Meinardus assisting on a goal into the lower right corner of the net by Brooklyn Baker.
• Now trailing for the first time in the match, the Mountain Lion offense went to work looking for an equalizer. UCCS had a couple of opportunities in the 55^th and 56^th minutes with Clarke and Lars Walczyk sailing shots just over the top of the crossbar and threatened again in the 69^th minute as Rory Scott got a head on the ball off a corner kick and narrowly missed the net for a score.
• Less than a minute after Scott's close call, the Mountain Lions had a fortunate turn of events as they were granted a penalty kick opportunity off a red card by Cal State San Marcos. Walker lined up to take the PK for UCCS and converted for the goal to tie the game at one apiece in the 70^th minute.  
• The final 20 minutes of action went by with very little offensive pressure from either team as a 77^th minute shot from UCCS freshman Diego Macias was the lone threat across the remainder of the second half with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

STATS FROM THE GAME

• The two teams had similar offensive lines with the Cougars narrowly outshooting the Mountain Lions 10-9 and both teams recording four shots on goal. UCCS held a distinct advantage in corner kicks, taking ten in the match compared to just five for CSUSM.
• Walker was the lone goal scorer for UCCS, collecting his first score of the season and first as a member of the Mountain Lions. Walker also tied for the team lead with two shots, being matched in the category by Clarke and Scott.
• Four different Mountain Lion student-athletes tallied shots on goal in the match, including Walker, Clarke, D. Macias, and Miles Seminario.
• A trio of field players logged a full 90 minutes on the pitch for UCCS, with Adin Schwenke, Bogdan Vedernikov, and Rory Scott each going the distance.
• Russell spent the full 90 minutes in frame for the Mountain Lions, surrendering just one goal and making three saves.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the draw, the Mountain Lions have now gone unbeaten in their last four season-openers with a 2-0-2 record in that span.
• Walker's goal in the 70^th minute was the seventh in his collegiate career, with his first six goals coming across the past two seasons as a member of California State University Dominguez Hills at the NCAA Division II level.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will continue their west coast road trip on Saturday, Sept. 7 when they square off with Azusa Pacific University for an 8 p.m. (MT) kickoff at the Cougar Soccer Complex in Azusa, Calif.

SOCIAL
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics. 
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